Father's Day Prayer

With frequent references to “Father God” in many churches, the celebration of Father’s Day becomes unavoidable in worship. Even if there are no mentions of the holiday, the presence of Trinitarian language which utilizes a masculine parent for God leaves many ears buzzing when the outside world is celebrating the day. Below is a prayer offered on social media for Father’s Day 2019. Feel free to use with credit.

For everyone whose father was never a father.

For those who stepped up to fill those shoes.

For those whose loving fathers have died and are deeply missed.

For those whose fathers have died and complicated relationships make feelings unsure.

For those whose example of a dad was abusive.

For those whose fathers were taken by violence, war, the prison system.

For fathers and children who no longer recognize one another due to degenerative disease.

For single fathers who do not have a partner to help their kids celebrate.

For fathers who are told by society that they are less of a parent.

For unknown fathers.

For fathers who made themselves unknown.

For those who want to be a father and cannot.

For fathers who have lost children.

For fathers who have adopted.

For fathers who have been barred from adoption by bigotry.

For those whose fathers disowned them.

For those who do not fit the father/mother holiday binary.

For those who hear 'Father God' and feel pain.

For all these we make space on this day in the hopes that the presence of love and healthy relationship may emerge for all from any number of sources.